Two newcomers filed applications Thursday to run in the Aug. 25 Kagawa gubernatorial election against incumbent Takeki Manabe.
Manabe, 62, is considered an overwhelming favorite to win a second four-year term because he is supported by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party.
Challenger Ashufaasako Sasaki, 35, the president of a design company, is calling for an end to pork-barrel politics. The other candidate, Joji Tatara, 52, a magazine editor, is seeking transparency in the operations of the prefectural government.
Manabe is plugging his achievement as the broker of a deal over the Teshima industrial waste case, but has been criticized after more than 2,000 civil servants were penalized for misusing public funds.